Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
Both teams have started the season poorly, much to the disappointment of their fans. They are currently languishing at the bottom of the table. Will either of them be able to break their losing streak and delight their supporters?
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad were significantly weakened during the summer transfer window, particularly by the loss of their main forward Alexander Sørloth, as well as multiple injuries. Currently, five regular players are on the injury list. Given these circumstances, it's incredibly difficult to deliver quality football.
The team is struggling in attack, with 6.3 xG but only three goals scored in seven matches. Their defensive record isn't any better: they have conceded seven goals with 9.8 xGA, and on average, Real Sociedad face more than 10 shots per match. The only slight consolation for their fans is their possession rate. On average, the team controls the ball for about 53% of the time, but this possession hasn't translated into goals and, more importantly, hasn't prevented opportunities for their opponents.
Valencia
Valencia, on the other hand, have also had a tough start to the season, partly due to a challenging fixture list. Four of their seven matches have been against teams in the top six. They too have a crowded injury list, but most of their injuries were carried over from last season, so their absences shouldn't have a significant impact on their current form. It's worth noting that the team creates very few chances (5 xG) and, accordingly, scores few goals (5 goals), while also defending poorly: 10.6 xGA and 10 goals conceded.
Real Sociedad vs Valencia Prediction
Considering both teams' issues in attack, it's likely that this will be a low-scoring game. This is also supported by their head-to-head history, as the last six meetings have all been under 2.5 goals, with five of those being under 1.5 goals. The trend is expected to continue, resulting in a very uneventful match.
